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Use the Data Entry property page to specify the print-time behavior of a control, including how often it requests data during a print job, what default data appears in the reply box, and whether it is included in the tab order of the data entry form.

For each event (print job, copy, serial number, or record), BarTender determines whether any controls on the form require input for that event. If so, the form is displayed again with only those controls available, and all other controls appear as "read-only."

The following options are available.

Date Entry Options

The data entry options that you can configure depend on the data entry control that is selected and include the following:

• Frequency: Specifies how often the data entry form prompts the user for input. For more information, refer to Frequency.

• Default: Specifies the source of the default reply or default selection for the data entry control. The options that appear in this list vary depending on the data entry control that is selected. The options that appear below this list vary depending on the default that you select. For more information, refer to Default.

Focus Behavior

• Move focus between controls when

• Enter key is pressed: Specifies that the cursor moves to the next data entry control when the print operator presses the Enter key. When this option is not selected, the data entry form is closed when the Enter key is pressed. If you have configured one or more of the print-time dialogs to be displayed, BarTender then displays the dialogs. Otherwise, BarTender prints the document when it closes the data entry form.

  For more information about print-time dialogs, refer to Print-Time Dialogs.

• Arrow key moves cursor beyond start or end of data: Specifies that the up and left arrow keys can move the cursor to the previous control and the down and right arrow keys can move the cursor to the next control. Whether the cursor moves to the other control depends on whether the cursor is currently at the start or the end of the data within the control and whether the control is a list type of control.

  For controls that already use the up and down arrow keys for other behavior, such as numeric or data input controls, the up and down arrow keys have no focus behavior effect. This option affects only those data entry controls that support manual data entry.

• Maximum number of characters is reached: Specifies that the cursor moves to the next control after the maximum number of characters that is specified in the Number of Characters transform is reached. This option affects only those data entry controls that support manual data entry.

• Data is inserted by barcode scanner: Specifies that the cursor moves to the next control when data is inserted from a barcode scanner. This option affects only those data entry controls that support manual data entry.

• Exclude control from tab order: Specifies that the control is automatically skipped when a print operator presses the Tab key (or Enter key, if the Enter key is pressed option is selected) to progress through the data entry controls on the form.

• Function Key: Specifies a shortcut key that you can assign to the data entry control. When the data entry form is displayed, the focus is sent to the specified control when the key is pressed or the key combination is entered. When you do this, data can be entered immediately without requiring the print operator to tab through the other data entry controls on the form.

Validation

After you link your data entry control to a data source, you can customize one or more of the following validation options, depending on the control that is selected.

• Character Filter: Forces data that is entered into the control to conform to specified rules.

• Number of Characters: Specifies the minimum and maximum number of characters that can be entered.

• Offset: Specifies one of the following:

  • The amount of time that is added to or subtracted from the entered value for a date picker or time picker control

  • The number that is added to or subtracted from the entered value for a slider or numeric input control

• Range Checking: Specifies a range of allowable dates.

Supported Controls

This property page is available for the following controls:

• Button Control

• Check Box Control

• Date Picker Control

• Dropdown List Control

• Dropdown Record Picker Control

• Dropdown Text Input Box Control

• Hyperlink Text Object

• Image Capture Control

• List Box Control

• Month Calendar Control

• Number Input Box Control

• Radio Button List Control

• Record Picker Control

• Scale Display Control

• Slider Control

• Text Input Box Control

• Time Picker Control

• Word Processor Input Box Control